Kirilenko's night mostly positive

Andrei Kirilenko was the first Utah player introduced Wednesday night in the Jazz's first preseason game at EnergySolutions Arena, which was maybe a third full at tipoff against the Milwaukee Bucks but filled in a bit later.

There were a few boos for the player who a month ago told a Russian Web site right after he was named MVP for the championship team at EuroBasket that he wanted to play elsewhere and was willing to forego the $63 million left on his contract because he was so unhappy with Jazz coach Jerry Sloan.

But mainly there were cheers for Kirilenko, though each successive Jazz player introduced got a bigger cheer than the one who preceded him.

To Kirilenko, his first moments on the Jazz's home floor in front of the crowd were just fine.

"Very well. I didn't hear anything. Our fans, they've been best all the time, and they've been supportive all the time, so I never have doubt," said Kirilenko, who played like the AK of old with 10 points on 5-for-7 shooting, some dunks, eight rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists and a steal.

His main complaints were that the Jazz lost 90-81and that the starting five, of which he was a part, didn't do enough.

"I think we could do a better job to create a little bit more lead and give our second squad little bit more chances, get comfortable, but we didn't," he said.

One of the two shots Kirilenko missed, a 3-pointer from the right side in the third quarter, drew one loud boo and an "AK, better bring your A game" from a fan, but for the most part, Kirilenko's night was fairly positive.

"Well, I don't really focus on that," he said of the few negative reactions. "Was it?" he asked about the smattered booing. "Well, what I can do about it? People doesn't really know what's going on."

He didn't take much credit for the nice plays he did make or his line in the boxscore. " Well, how I can comment on it? Good?"

He did admit to playing well at both ends. "That's always been my game. Energetic game and play both ends of the court. I'm glad that everything is going that way," he said.

And at times like when he blocked Charlie Villanueva and got the ball to teammate Ronnie Brewer for a dunk. Kirilenko said, "That's little thing in the game where you feel like you can do everything. The team get the lead, like six-seven points. That's when you feel great."